If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Pacific Blue making waves, says Qantas
SYD MH Biz: Pacific Blue making waves, says Qantas by Scott Rochfort,
Transport Writer May 5, 2004 Pacific Blue had already emerged as the "price leader" in the trans-Tasman market, Qantas said yesterday, despite the Virgin Blue offshoot having just 5 per cent of the available passenger seats into New Zealand and still steering clear of the main hub of Auckland. On day two of the airline's bid to overturn the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's rejection of its proposed alliance with Air New Zealand, Qantas contested that Pacific Blue was even having an impact on air fares into New Zealand airports to which it did not fly. Qantas head of fleet, network and alliances Paul Edwards said while Pacific Blue only called at Wellington and Christchurch, it was having an impact across the board. "We've got a situation where a lot of Tasman travellers travel across New Zealand and they don't care whether they start or finish in Christchurch or start or finish in Auckland," he said. During cross examination by the ACCC, Mr Edwards conceded Qantas's 22.5 per cent planned investment in Air NZ would take away the threat of a foreign rival taking a share in the NZ carrier. Counsel for the ACCC, Rowan Dark, SC, argued as one element of the investment Qantas wanted to take away any risk of Air NZ (or its low-cost subsidiary Freedom) setting up a domestic airline in Australia, possibly in partnership with Singapore Airlines. When pressed why Qantas needed to make an investment in Air NZ, instead of just forging a closer relationship, Mr Edwards said a 22.5 per cent stake would act as the "glue" in the alliance. But Mr Edwards added: "We want to be in a position that when we had assisted them to get into [financial health], that they didn't become an investment target." Meanwhile, the deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, said he was confident the alliance would go ahead in some form. "You will see, I think, more alliances and I dare say they [Qantas and Air NZ] will keep working at it until they get something which they think secures the best commercial outcome," Mr Anderson told AAP. ### |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
JET BLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT POSITION | LiteraryPursuits | Air travel | 7 | May 24th, 2004 11:55 AM |
Pacific Blue eyes Noumea | texan@texas.,.removethisbit.usa.com | Australia & New Zealand | 0 | April 28th, 2004 09:14 PM |
Qantas Airways Cuts Fares from Los Angeles to Australia and New Zealand | texan@texas,,,removethisbit.usa.com | Australia & New Zealand | 0 | April 2nd, 2004 06:01 AM |
Pacific Blue Press Release - Trans Tasman services | Tony Bailey | Australia & New Zealand | 0 | September 17th, 2003 04:46 AM |
Pacific Blue Airlines Starts Feb 01 2004 | [email protected] | Australia & New Zealand | 0 | September 17th, 2003 04:14 AM |